South Africa bids to bring Olympics to Africa

South Africa has selected Durban as its preferred candidate to host the 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, in a bid to bring the world’s biggest multi-sport event to Africa for the first time.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) announced the decision on Thursday, October 29, with acting president Lwandile Simelane confirming that the coastal city would serve as the centrepiece of the country’s Olympic ambitions.

The proposal is expected to follow a multi-city approach, allowing other major South African cities, including Johannesburg and Cape Town, to host selected sporting events.

Durban, South Africa’s third-largest city, lies along the Indian Ocean coast and has an estimated population of about four million people.

The city’s existing sporting infrastructure, including the 56,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is expected to play a central role in the proposed Games.

South Africa successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African country to stage football’s premier international tournament.

The experience provides a foundation for its Olympic ambitions, although hosting the Olympics would present a substantially larger financial and logistical undertaking.

The country’s bid also faces questions over costs, infrastructure and the guarantees required to deliver an event involving thousands of athletes from around the world.

Officials have not yet provided a definitive estimate of the overall cost of staging the Games.

Durban’s previous experience with international sporting events also presents a cautionary example.

The city was awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games but lost the hosting rights in 2017 after failing to meet key financial and other obligations.

Despite those challenges, South Africa’s government has backed the Olympic initiative following Cabinet approval, according to Reuters.

SASCOC is expected to present its proposal to the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission in November 2026.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has identified seven interested countries for the 2036 Games: South Africa, Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Korea and Türkiye.

Their proposals will undergo technical assessments before the IOC Executive Board considers a shortlist in March 2027.

The host city for the 2036 Olympics is expected to be selected in mid-2029, following further discussions and evaluations.

A successful South African bid would mark a historic milestone for the continent.

Africa has never hosted the Summer Olympic Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896.

Cape Town previously attempted to secure the 2004 Games but lost to Athens.

The timing also places Africa in the international Olympic spotlight as Dakar, Senegal, prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games from October 31 to November 13, 2026, becoming the first African city to stage an Olympic event.